kristiapplesauce

Swiper, no swiping.

When you live wherever you live you start to get accustomed to the regular situations that happen in your area or neighborhood(s). Here in South Africa, thieving is one such situation. We (people who live here) hear about it on an almost daily basis. It is that frequent. Almost every home here has an alarmed security system (which we are told are more reliable then the police for break-ins), also most homes have big fences with dogs to secure their homes as well. Around our property we have all three. BUT we still hear stories of people getting through the security and even this week I was talking to a friend about how a person had broken into her home, while the alarm was on and stole a bunch of stuff including her cell phone which was on her nightstand - which was of course next to her bed that she was sleeping in. Thank God she wasn't hurt.

So all that to say, we are a little anxious about our situation here. The Bible tells us not to worry about anything...but I still do. Dang it.

I also have been hanging out in Luke lately, reading and studying chapter 10 especially..and in it the author talks about Christ sending out the "workers" ahead of Himself to prepare the way for His ministry while He was on the earth. In verse 4 it talks about not worrying about money, extra clothes or shoes or anything along the way and then that references Luke 12:33 which reads: "Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won't grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys."

So then I try to balance. I know we have been given these things to do our work here and I know that God has a plan and I desire to honor him and be wise with what we have and want to make sure not to be greedy and over possessive and not worry OR stress OR freak out about it because seriously, what is that going to do? Nothing. Obviously. But dang.

So just in case you wanted to know what has been going through Kristi's mind as of late....that's it.

What do you eat there in South Africa?

I bet I was asked that question at least 20 times while I was back in the States. We eat similar foods to what we/you eat in the US, only a lot more fresh fruit and veggies and a heck of a lot more tea. There aren't really any pesticides or preservatives in the food here - so we have to go grocery shopping every second or third day but I like fresh food, so it's all good (get it - good?) nevermind. Anywho...here is a picture of what we will be eating for the next few days. Meat, fruit, milk, cheese, granola, yogurt, corn, wine and chocolate. We are able to keep some stuff in our cabinets and fridge, but we don't store a whole lot...so there you go.

We also don't own a clothes dryer so I do a load or two of laundry everyday (the washer only holds about two towels) and hang our clothes outside. We have some inside drying racks when it rains...but that process sometimes takes up to two days, so I like it when it's sunny.

Another fabulous plus - is that we have a lemon tree right outside our back door. So I get to pick (rather I ask Daniel to pick me some) whenever we need lemon juice for whatever.
Yay.

South Africa in Panera

How much does God love me?

So I am spending all day in Panera, answering emails, blogs and catching up and right in front of me this group of people sit down to work or talk or whatever they were doing and I couldn't help but notice that it was a white guy and three incredibly beautiful black women. One had with her a tiny baby and all of a sudden I was home. I didn't see them, but saw Daniel sitting with three Mamas and I was in South Africa planning out our day.

So thank you God for loving me so much. Thank you for home.

27

From Port Elizabeth to Kansas City takes us 27 hours. Many things happened during those hours. It was my 31st birthday, and I got my first birthday cake (of the year) which was fabulous, and presents! I love presents. When you are on such a long flight you (me) are able to process so much stuff. I think about who I am going to see on the other side. I think about who I am going to miss on the other. I think about all the stuff I am responsible for and hope I got it all taken care of in preparation for our trip. I think about all of the military peeps I will get to thank (my New Years resolution for the last um-teen years), I think about Starbucks, I think about sleep and trying to manage/manipulate it so to minimize jet lag. But mostly I think about my family. Being so far from them has taken a toll. Not the distance really, but in how drastic our lives have changed. How I have changed. How their lives have changed because life and time changes people and I(we) haven't been here. My beautiful nephew and niece are getting bigger and smarter; growing taller and more grown up everyday and I am missing it. I was in both their delivery rooms and now? Now, I have to settle for visiting during school lunch when I am back and hope that they understand the sacrifice. My parents are older and gray hairs are settling in around the edges and I wonder if one day when we make the flight home if all of a sudden they will be 60, 75, 80 and I will have missed that too. My sister, my partner in crime is somehow different too. We work hard at keeping our relationship solid, but she and I miss one another in a way that is unexplainable and even when we are together we both are counting the days because we know they are short and we are on borrowed time. So I will forge on this next month. Not really knowing where to stand or what to say. Knowing I don't really belong to this country anymore but knowing I belong to this family, more now then I ever did when I lived with them. They have made it possible for us to live oversees and feed kids who don't have families and since we have moved - I have learned from them what love is all about.

This is America

In a few days I will be leaving for my home country. I will be leaving for my other home. I will be leaving my home. I am always in a perpetual state of "where to belong", but when I am in one or the other, I love the place I'm in. I always long for the other...but I love the place I'm in.

I took this photo when we were in Oklahoma a few years back and it is one of my absolute favorite shots ever. This stranger was such a cool man. We wondered into his bar asking for directions and he ended up talking to us forever. We weren't in a hurry, so it didn't matter.

I can't wait to get back to the United States. I can't wait to see and thank all of the US military people I run into. I can't wait to have random conversations with people about nothing and everything. I can't wait to hear people talk like me. I can't wait to spend time drinking fabulous fabulousness at my favorite coffee shop. I can't wait to think about nothing when my biggest worry is what time to pick up my favorite niece and nephew from school. I can't wait to garage sale and spend time with my mom and sister. I can't wait to wonder into bars to ask for directions and stay for a bonus conversation from a new friend. I can't wait to listen to American radio. I can't wait to eat Grandma's cooking. I can't wait to see familiar faces who on that side are allowing us to do what we do over on the other.  I can't wait to do all those things because I know that as soon as I land I will be ready to flip back around and come back because I will have left my heart here...my other home.

Weepy

Today I am feeling like I can't stand up straight. We took the tree down and as I was wrapping the ornaments and tucking them safely away, I realized that this tree is all I have to make our home "Christmas-y". Usually the day after Christmas, my Mom and I go shopping and I buy stuff on sale for the next year - wrapping paper, decorations, presents...whatever. But nope. Here - there is nothing like that. We ventured out and all the Christmas stuff is still out at the same prices that they were before Christmas. But that isn't even the "real" problem. I know that I am just feeling sorry for myself; but I miss the familiar today. I miss being near our family and I miss the "easy". I don't know why it took me a couple days to feel this way...Christmas was actually fun and Daniel made it super special...but now, a few days later, I am all weepy and sad. I wish I could go shopping with my Mom today and I wish I could go to Starbucks and get my Grande Chai and I wish I could wrap a scarf around my neck and play in the snow and I wish I could spend the rest of school break playing with my nephew and niece. I wish I wasn't so selfish and I wish I could stop crying.

Who is it gonna be?

My uncle Gordon drove home yesterday to VOTE. He has been working out of the state for the last month or so and they didn't mail him the ballot in time so he drove back to VOTE. I am so proud of him. Daniel and I are pretty much done with all the stuff we came here to do. We have had all of our meetings and met with all the churches we set up to meet with. There are a few loose ends we will be taking care of this week and then we will be headed home...but we are so super excited to VOTE on Tuesday. I am so excited to be an American and to be apart of something so important. I know that there is a lot of controversy and drama surrounding this election...and I know a lot of people are indifferent but for me as an American who normally doesn't get to participate in American traditions and rights on US soil, I am honored and fabulously giddy to VOTE with other Americans this Tuesday. I hope you are too.

Seasons

I am a huge, huge believer in seasons. Like when they come in and out of our lives. Receiving them; letting them come to an end; enjoying them when they are in bloom. Yeah, I have always kind of been a big fan. Anyways, when my big weekend with my blogger friends was over and we were getting ready to check out of the hotel room I took this picture. It kind of says it all. I miss being in the same vicinity as my new friends...but really, I know that our friendship is stronger then having to be together 24/7 and I know that real-life still goes on. I know that when it comes down to it, I have to work on my relationship with God and to be a good friend for others - I need to be completely sold out to the Lord and really know HIM to be known by others. Yeah, this is an interesting season and I hope that when it comes to an end, I will be able to look back and will hear the words "Well done, good and faithful...."

Inept

inept

5 dictionary results for: inept

in·ept /ɪnˈɛpt, ɪˈnɛpt/

–adjective

1.	without skill or aptitude for a particular task or assignment; maladroit: He is inept at mechanical tasks. She is inept at dealing with people.

2.	generally awkward or clumsy; haplessly incompetent.

3.	inappropriate; unsuitable; out of place.

4.	absurd or foolish: an inept remark.

 

Mandy the other day had a post about how we were feeling...Since I never really have a problem sharing how I feel, this is what I put down "inept". Yup. I feel totally inept on this side of the world. I feel that way...but I know that our feelings are fickle and misleading, so I am going to pray and try to figure it out.

Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 It only took 10 hours but three states, not bad. 
It was kind of weird and wonderful to think and sing and pray and drive by myself as usually I share drive time with my groom.
Sadly, he was not 1 mile away.
But I had an awesome time figuring some things out and I hope as I drive back tomorrow I will have another interesting time to sift through some thoughts that have been storing up.